“Yes, it's about as big a difference as you can get,” Long said. “One week you have a team that throws (the ball) 80 times and doesn't want to run it, to a team that runs it 80 times and doesn't really want to throw it. It's a big challenge.”

And that was the point when Bob Davie opted to take on a rebuilding project that had lost 33 of its last 36 games before he arrived in Albuquerque, New Mexico, before the 2012 season.

Not only could an option-based offense provide a challenging wrinkle to opposing defenses each week, it would help the Lobos keep their defense off the field after allowing opponents to outscore them by 32 points a game over the three seasons leading up to the former Notre Dame coach’s arrival.

Over the last two years, New Mexico’s opponents’ edge is down to 4.3 points per game.

“That all goes into the decision to do this,” Davie said. “I think most people that have been in this conference would realize the unique situation we’re in just from a roster standpoint and it does give us something a little bit unique, some identity moving forward.

“That’s what this whole thing is about – building identity.”

The Lobos certainly have that.

In fact, their subtle nuances – especially the inside run game – mean the Aztecs can’t expect much of their game plan against Air Force’s option (169 yards allowed on the ground was well below the Falcons’ average of 271) to carry over into Saturday’s scripts.

That’s where the drawing board comes in.

Long and Co. have already dissected the Lobos on film and devised a defensive game plan that they’re putting in on the fly.

Then there’s more film, more drawing board time and more dissection.

In the end, the Aztecs know what they see is what they get – if they can figure it out, that is.

“It’s a going to be a game where you have to use your eyes,” Berhe said. “You have to trust your eyes a lot because they’ll take you where you want to go.”